Spurs say no to Quinn's offer

Friday 4 August 2006 20.30 EDT
First published on Friday 4 August 2006 20.30 EDT

Niall Quinn's famed powers of persuasion have failed to live up to their billing with Tottenham Hotspur, who last night turned down Sunderland's attempts to sign Calum Davenport and Andy Reid.

The 23-year-old defender and 24-year-old midfielder, valued at a combined £4m, have attracted interest from several clubs after fading from the first-team picture at White Hart Lane but Spurs' manager Martin Jol wants to retain their services despite Quinn's efforts to dissuade him.

"We inquired about a couple of players at Spurs but there was nothing doing," revealed Sunderland's chairman-manager, who has significant transfer funds at his disposal from the Irish-based Drumaville consortium he heads after its £10m takeover of the Championship side.

"Spurs rejected all our advances," said Quinn, who also failed to strike a compromise deal in the form of season-long loans for the two players.

He did make one signing, however, securing the services of Darren Ward, the former Norwich City goalkeeper. The Irishman also confirmed that Carlisle United's striker Michael Bridges will not be returning to the Stadium of Light.

Watford are set to beat West Bromwich Albion to the signing of the Queens Park Rangers centre-half Danny Shittu after matching the Championship club's £1.5m bid for the 25-year-old. Shittu had been expected to move to the Hawthorns in a transfer which might ultimately have cost West Brom £3m, but he is not keen to relocate and was in talks with Watford's manager Aidy Boothroyd last night about a switch to Vicarage Road.